If boxing already means men get repeatedly punched in the head so bad it can cause brain damage, we don't think that Mixed Martial Arts fighting could be that much worse. But it's still illegal in New York, which means New Jersey is seeing all the MMA action—and cash. NJ.com reports that an MMA event at Madison Square Garden would attract 10,000 local attendees, and would net the city around $1.4 million per event. But it's not like the city needs the money, right?
Yesterday, about 50 MMA fighters marched through downtown Manhattan in support of the sport's legalization in New York, and they plan on hitting up Albany and Buffalo next. One fan made the argument, "Boxing, wrestling, kickboxing - these are all legal sports in New York. It doesn't make sense for them to be illegal combined." Exactly! That'd be like trying to outlaw a product if it were just a combination of energy drinks, soda, alcohol, caffeine pi—oh wait.
Meanwhile, New Jersey plans on having 43 MMA events this year, and a study showed that with an average ticket price of $87.50 the state would earn $175,000 per event.
